A blog to promote our local policies, updates with the latest campaigns and news within the branch

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Ukip takes its conference to Labour leader’s heartland

UKIP has chosen Ed Miliband’s constituency town of Doncaster to
host its Autumn conference as the party continues to shift focus on to
winning support from Labour.
The anti-European Union party will head to South Yorkshire in September for what it expects will be its biggest-ever gathering.
Having
long been viewed as a party which almost exclusively appeals to
disaffected Conservatives, there has been a growing body of evidence
over the past 18 months that Ukip is increasingly picking up significant
levels of support in traditional Labour areas. Ukip finished second in a
2012 by-election in the Labour safe seat of Rotherham.
The
conference on September 26 – 27 at Doncaster racecourse takes the party
further into Labour territory. Leader Ed Miliband is the MP for
Doncaster North, while Chief Whip Rosie Winterton is the MP for
Doncaster Central.
Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall said: “We are
taking the UKIP message straight into one of Labour’s most neglected
heartlands, a part of the country it has taken for granted for far too
long.
“This event will represent our firing of the starting pistol
for the long general election campaign and will give the lie to any
idea that we are only a threat to the Tories.
“I hope as many
members as possible will want to be a part of this exciting event. It
could be something special for us – a real launch pad to success at the
general election of 2015.”
Labour dismissed the threat from Ukip,
however, accusing the party of “breezing in” to use the local facilities
rather than working on behalf of local people.
A spokesman for
Labour’s Yorkshire branch said: “Ukip have said nothing which shows any
indication they understand the challenges faced by thousands of
Doncaster families caused by David Cameron’s cost-of-living crisis.
“Ukip
may breeze in, use the fantastic facilities at the racecourse then
breeze out again, but Labour work hard for Doncaster all year round.”http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/politics/ukip-takes-its-conference-to-labour-leader-s-heartland-1-6519417